World Cup set to kick off in blaze of discontent

Share via

Sao Paulo is to host the opening match of the World Cup in two weeks, but any visitor will be underwhelmed by the celebratory atmosphere: instead of flags there is angry graffiti, instead of parades there are protests, and an outbreak of dengue fever appears to have outstripped the lukewarm football fever.

Even in places where street celebrations are being prepared, there are protests about overspending on stadiums while much-needed public services are underfunded. In the west of the city, a group of men in the Pirituba neigbourhood have painted pictures of the striker Neymar and coach Felipe Scolari on

Subscribe now

Login

Already a subscriber?

To see the full article you need to subscribe

Subscribe

Login

1/8

Police use tear gas to control World Cup protesters

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Lunae Parracho /Reuters

Police use tear gas to control World Cup protesters

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Lunae Parracho /Reuters

Tribal chiefs gathered to denounce the vast sums spent on the tournament

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Eraldo Peres/AP

Demonstrators shout slogans against Fifa at the bus station in Brasilia

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Eraldo PeresAP

Tribal leaders fired arrows at police officers

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Fernando Bizerra Jr/EPA

Riot police arrest an activist who smashed a police car with a stone during a protest

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Evaristo Sa/Getty Images

‘We want to grab the politicians’ attention,’ said one protester

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Fernando Bizerra Jr/EPA

Graffiti depicts Brazilian national footballer Neymar with a hood used by members of the anarchist group Black Bloc

2014-05-28 16:14:00.301 Yasuyoshi Chiba/Getty Images

There are also calls for more funding for education and a crackdown on endemic crime